Saturn’s Ring Are Disappearing Its Beauty Is Fleeting

Saturn’s iconic rings are disappearing and if scientists’ estimations are correct, they will all be gone within the next a hundred million years.

We are presently at a point in human history where we are not only aware of all the other planets and entities in our solar system, but we’ve sent probes to seek out out more about them. In fact, as of last month, NASA has actually sent 2 probes beyond our solar system. voyager two recently became only the second ever man made object to reach interstellar space.

Back to the worlds much nearer to us and most of them are different and unique. perhaps the most unique of all the planets in our solar system is the gas giant, Saturn. it’s certainly the easiest to recognize. that is because of the iconic rings circling it. {they are|they’re} actually made from ice and are formed of countless little pieces of water ice and rock.

NASA / JPL / Space Science Institute / GordanUgarkovic

It makes for a pretty lovely phenomenon, but apparently, it will not be one we can admire forever. Saturn’s rings are disappearing and according to Sky News, scientists predict that within a hundred million years they will be completely gone. that might look like a long time to you and me, however when you consider Saturn was formed around four billion years ago, a measly a hundred million years is not long at all.

So where are Saturn’s rings going? Well, for once, it’s not our fault. The icy rings are gradually being pulled into the planet by gravity. NASA’s James O’Donoghue estimates that the rings are being pulled in and turned to rain at a rate that would fill an Olympic sized pool every half an hour. when you consider it’ll still take a hundred million years to deplete Saturn’s rings entirely, that should give you a concept of how much ice is orbiting the planet right now.

What scientists still cannot be sure of is how Saturn got its rings in the 1st place. Some argue the planet was formed with them, while the more probably hypothesis is that it picked them up along the way. If so, we are very lucky to have witnessed Saturn’s rings at all. it might also suggest that other planets’ ring systems, like Neptune’s, might have been a lot more elaborate millions of years ago.